three inches. The diameter of the cavity varies from two and three-fourths to three and one-eighth in- 

 ches, and its depth from one and one-half to two and one-half inches. 



EGGS: 



The complement of eggs is four or five, four being the usual number. They vary in long-diameter from 

 .80 to .91, and in short-diameter fro'm .57 to .07. The largest egg in ten sets measures .91 x .60, the 

 smallest, .82 x. .57. The common size is about .88 x .60. The ground-color of the shell is generally 

 moderately tinted with bluish-green, but occasionally with blue-gray or slate-color, and still less frequently 

 it is clouded by a wash of brown. The markings consist of well-defined dots and specks of sepia, so 

 heavily laid on as to appear black. On some eggs the marks are distributed sparingly, but quite regu- 

 larly, over the whole shell. On some they wreath around the base, while on others, and this is the usual 

 pattern, they are scattered in small coalescent groups here and there over the surface. Considerable 

 space generally separates the dots from each other, and it is exceptional to find more than two or three 

 marks that are confluent. The deep shell-marks are often nearly as numerous as surface marks, and 

 occasionally more plentiful. Their color is neutral tint of more or less intensity, according to their depth. 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 

 See table. 



REMARKS : 



The nest illustrated, Plate LII, was taken July 20th, J 883, from a small elm tree within twenty 

 vards of Mr. Samuel Evans' residence, on Pickaway Plains. It was about fifteen feet from the ground, 

 and opposite a second-story window, from which point a good view of it could be obtained. It is com- 

 posed principally of split weed-stems, fine rootlets, dead-leaves of the elm, strings, and a bunch of linen 

 ravelings. The lining differs from the foundation and superstructure only in being made of the best 

 quality of the materials. The coarsest weed-stems and rootlets are exterior, the finest within. The exter- 

 nal diameter is about four and three-fourths inches. The diameter of the cavity about three and one- 

 quarter inches, the depth, one and three-fourths inches.- The eggs figured represent the common sizes, 

 shapes, and markings — the center one is perhaps nearest the average in all respects. 



The Cedarbird is of beautiful form and feather, and is especially attractive on account of its handsome 

 crest and "wax-tipped" secondaries. The vermilion wax-like tips are most plentiful on old birds, and, in 

 very fine specimens, are not limited to the secondaries, but may be found also on the tail feathers. In two 

 instances I have found four secondaries beautifully tipped in nestlings. The Cedarbird is said to have a 

 very low song; ordinarily, it utters but a single note, a squeaking whistle of high pitch and peculiar tim- 

 ber. Its domestic life is largely a pantomime show. The billing and cooing is carried on with but an oc- 

 casional word, and the young are apparently deaf and dumb. I visited the nest illustrated several times 

 before the little ones were out, and found each time the parents absent. At one visit I hunted the 

 neighboring trees, and soon espied the pair, but could not induce either bird to show itself by threaten- 

 ing to take their home. I have frequently taken the eggs of this species without the parents making 

 the slightest resistance, and at other times they have been very demonstrative. Their intelligence is of 

 low order. They are great gormandizers — fearless when hungry, and stupid when satiated. They destroy 

 immense quantities of cherries and small berries; and thousands are shot every year by fruit-growers, 

 who are not far sighted enough to see that the large crops are often due to the Cedarbird, which, in sea- 

 sons of the year when berries are wanting, feed upon destructive insects, or their eggs and larva3. 



184 



